Doctor of Education (EdD)

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The Doctor of Education (EdD) is a three-year degree program that equips practitioner-scholars with the skills needed to lead high-performing organizations, connect research with practice and help all students to learn. The program is geared toward working professionals who aspire to be leaders in urban education. Admission requires a master's degree and a minimum of three years of work experience in a related field.

Preliminary Review

The EdD preliminary review must be passed before the student has completed more than 21 units. Passing the preliminary review is prerequisite to continuing in the program.

Advisement Committee

The student selects a three-member advisement committee in consultation with the adviser upon applying to take the qualifying examination.

The committee chair must have a full-time appointment in the Rossier School of Education. One member of the committee may be a faculty member elsewhere or a full-time professional educator holding a doctorate and with strength in the area of the dissertation topic, if nominated by the committee chair and approved by the director of the EdD program.

Areas of Concentration

There are four areas from which students must select a specialization: K–12 Leadership in Urban School Settings, Educational Psychology, Higher Education Administration and Teacher Education in Multicultural Societies.

Unit Requirement

The EdD requires completion of 60 units of course work. A maximum of 4 project units (764 Consulting Project) may be applied toward the degree. Students admitted with Advanced Standing complete a minimum of 43 units.

Core Program

EdD students are required to complete 13 units of core course work:

EDUC 522 Challenges in Urban Education: Accountability Units: 3
EDUC 523 Challenges in Urban Education: Diversity Units: 3
EDUC 524 Challenges in Urban Education: Leadership Units: 3
EDUC 525 Challenges in Urban Education: Learning Units: 3
EDUC 605 Framing Educational Leadership Units: 1
EDUC 764a Consulting Project Units: 1
EDUC 764b Consulting Project Units: 1
EDUC 764c Consulting Project Units: 1
EDUC 764d Consulting Project Units: 1

Additional Information

Methods

All EdD students must complete EDUC 532 Inquiry Methods I and EDUC 536 Inquiry Methods II for a total of 6 units.

Research

Students must complete 6 units of research course work (EDUC 792 Critique of Research in Education and EDUC 790 Research ).

Electives

In consultation with assigned advisers, students take 14 units of elective course work.

Admission to Candidacy

Admission to candidacy is a formal action taken by the faculty of the Rossier School of Education. That action is based upon passing the qualifying examination.

Doctoral Capstone

A doctoral capstone based upon identifying and addressing a problem of practice in the candidate’s domain of focus is required. An acceptable capstone must show technical mastery of a special field and skills of a practitioner-scholar. The student must be enrolled in 764 Consulting Project each fall and spring semester after admission to candidacy until the capstone has been approved. A minimum of two semesters (4 units-764a&b and 764c&d concurrently) is required. Enrollment in 764 prior to admission to candidacy is not permitted and such registration is invalid.